Tyrone For England

Incredibly Tyrone Mears, who left Derby under a cloud, believes that he has a chance at England recognition now that he plays for Marseille.

"It was my choice to leave Derby County where I got good wages. I didn't want to play at the bottom of the league. So I asked to leave. The Marseille officials came and got me.

"I came to l'OM to play in Europe and to [help them] top the L1 ranking. To me Marseille is a springboard to the English team, which is a big motivation.

"I can now understand why so many young French players are hired by English top teams."

Mears was talking to Aujourd'hui Sport.

The 26-year-old is of course still a Derby player as he is only on loan with the French Giants, but a return to Pride Park is highly unlikely but not as unlikely as the chances of Mears, who has only played a bit part role with Marseille anyway, gaining an England call-up!